The ongoing political crisis has also prompted the Australian government to call for further international sanctions against Fiji.

But Stephen Smith, the Australian foreign minister, said earnings from the country's vital tourism sector would not be affected.

"We don't want to do anything which adversely impacts on the Fiji people themselves," Smith told local radio.

"We're urging the international community to look at what measures the international community can apply."

Fiji's tourism- and sugar export-dependent economy has rapidly declined since the 2006 coup.

Bainimarama has said he will eventually hold elections to restore democracy, after he rewrites the constitution and electoral laws to remove what he says is racial discrimination against a large ethnic Indian minority.

Events in Fiji have also been condemned by the United Nations and the Commonwealth, which has called for a special meeting to discuss the situation in the South Pacific nation.

Source:Agencies

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